Needle-guard for sewing-machines.



L- B. KETCHAM.

NEEDLE GUARD FOR sawmc MACHINES, 1

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1913.

Patented Jan. 16, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Jan.16,1917.

3. SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L B KETCHAM NEEDLE GUARD FOR SEWING MACHINES, APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1913.

Nzz

L.B.KEICHAM, NEEDLE GUARD FOR SEWING MACHINES,

APPLICATION FILED MAY l4, I913- Patented Jan. 16, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- UNITED s'r 'rEs r-ATEn'r o- Ion.

LOUIS B. KETCHAM, or BINGI-IAMTQN, NEW YORK, AssIenoR T0 UNI-ON SPECIAL MACHINE COMPANY, OFQCI-IICAGO, ILLINOIS, noonPoRA'rIoN OF ILLINOIS.

NEEDLE-GUARD Fen SEWING-MACHINES Application filed May 14, 1913. Serial No. 767.703.

' To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LoUIsB. Karenina,-

a citizen of the United States, residing at Binghamton, in the county of Broome,f

State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Needle- Guards for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to I the figures of reference marked thereon.

lower end of its stroke, 'so as to engage the needle at a point adjacent the'eyethereof and maintain said engagement until the point of the looper has passed the needle.

7 A further object of the invention is to provide a needle; guard which is positively moved continuously in a path substantially I at right anglesto the path of the looper,

and which needle guard contacts with the needle during a portion of its travel for holding the needle properly positioned while the point of the looper ispassing the same.

These and oth-er' objects will in part be obvious, and willin part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a detail showing in front elevation a portion of the forward end of a sewing machine having my improvements applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view, showing the needle guard, its supporting means, andits relation to the tion, showing the adjustable connection between the needle guard and the supporting fork;-Fig. 4 is a detail inplan, showing the needle guard, the 'fe'edv dog, theneedles andtheloopers Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective,

showing. the relation of the needle guard to the needles; Fig- 6 is a detail in perspective, showing the operating mechanism for the needle guard; Fig. 7 is adetail showi-n the relative positions of the needle guar Specification of Letters'lattnt.

Patented Jan. 1 6, 1917.

I and the needle and the eccentric for operating the needle guard, when the needle is near the'lower end of its stroke; Fig. 8 is a similar View, showing the needle positioned for thepoint of the looper to enter the needle loop; Fig. 9 is a similar view showing' the needles substantially at the upper end of :their stroke; Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic View, showing the relations of the needle guard-the needle and the work support, when the needle guard first contacts wlth theneedle; Fig. 11- is a similar view,

1 showing the needle at the lower end of its stroke; and Fig. 12 is a similar view, showing the needle positioned for the looper point-to enter the needle loop.

The invention is shown applied to a sewing machine which -consists of a supporting bed 1 having the usual. work support and an overhanging arm 2, in which reciprocates a needle bar 3. This needle bar is connected .by a link 4 to the usualneedle lever 5. As herein shown, the needle bar is provided with two pairs of needles 8 and 9. Th.e needles 8 are arranged in rear of the needles 9. A looper 10 cooperates with the two needles 8, and a looper 11 cooperates with the two needles 9; Each pair ofv needles is set in a line substantially at right angles to the'line of feed, and, therefore, the single looper which cooperates with the two needles may pass through or into both of the needle loops, one after the other. The loopers 10 and 11 are mounted on a looper car rier 12, which is pivoted at13 to a looper support 14. This looper support 14 is rocked,

so as to move the loopers 10 and 11 in a direction substantially parallel withthe line of feed,and thus impart to the loopers the usual needle-avoiding movement. The looper carrier 12 is rocked on a pivotal support 13,

by a link 15, and this link moves the loopers into: and out of the needle loops in the well known :manner. Y 1

needle and feed; Fig. 3 is a detailin sec The fabric is presented to the needles by a feed dog 16, carried by afeed bar 17, which is pivoted to a feed rocker-18, The usual eccentric engages the feed bar and raises and lowers thesame, while the feed dog is moved back and forth by a connection 19 end of the main shaft.

"between thefeed'rocker 18 and the forward 7 It is wellaknown that the needles during :the setting of the stitch and the feeding of the fabric are'under strain in a direction parguard consists of a supporting shank 20, which carries a laterally projecting finger 21,

the front upper face of which is inclined, so as to form a needle-guiding shoulder 22.

. This needle-guiding shoulder is the needle guard for the needles 8. The shank is also provided with an inclined face 23, which forms a needle-guiding shoulder 24, and this needle-guiding shoulder 24 is the needle guard for the needles 9.

The supporting shank 20 is attached to a bracket 25 by a suitable screw 26. The bracket 25' is turned upward at its front end and formed with a groove which receives. a rib 27 on the slotted shank of the needle guard, and the upturned portion of the bracket 25 is. slotted, so that said shank may be adjusted vertically on the bracket. This bracket 25 is provided with two slots 28 and 29. The bracketis secured to a supporting fork by screws 31, which pass through the slots 28 and 29 into the fork. These slots are elongated, so the bracket 25'may' be adjusted lengthwise on the supporting fork. The supporting fork 30 is pivoted at 32 to a supporting arm 33, which in turn is pivoted on the pivot pin 34, for the feed rocker 18. This arm 33 turns freely on the pivot pin 34, and serves merely as a guide and support for the rear end of the needle guide supporting fork. An eccentric 35 is attached to the main shaft 36. The supporting fork 30 extends above and below said eccentric 35, and is provided with suitable hardened wearing plates 37, which engage the eccentric. A bar 38 extends across the inner portion of the supporting fork 30, and is screwed thereto. Said bar is provided with a laterally projecting portion 39, which engages the eccentric 35 at the rear side thereof. The second bar 40 is attached to the fork by suitable screws 41, and this bar is also provided with a laterally projecting member 42, which engages the eccentric 35 at the frontside thereof. It will be apparent, therefore, that the eccentric turns between the members 39 and 42, and the hardened plates 37, so said eccentric is engaged on four sides thereof, and, therefore, the supporting forkf30 will positively follow said eccentric as it rotates, and all movements imparted to the supporting fork both back and forth and up and down, will be'positive. As this'eccentric rotates, the supporting fork will, therefore, be raised and lowered at its front end, swinging about the pivotpin 32,

' shown in Fig.7, "with the supporting fork lowered to its extreme lower position. As the needles continue their downward move ment, the eccentric turning in the direction of the arrow will move the supporting fork forward, bringing the needle guard into contact with the needle. The needle guard is so positioned as'to engage the needle adjacent the eye therein, As theneedle starts on'its upward movement, the eccentric continuing its motion in the direction of the" arrow, will cause said supporting fork to move upward, and the needle guard will follow the needle in its upward travel. ;When the eccentric has reached the position shown in Fig. 8, the loop'er is moved forward, and is about to enter' the needle "loop, and the needle at this time is held properly positioned by the needle guard, so that'the loop'er cannot by any possibility" strikethe needle. A further upward movement 'of the "needle carries the needle away from the needle guard, the cocentric continues to lift; the supporting fork for the needle guard, but the further movements ofthe needle guard are idle movements, so faras the needle is concerned, untilthe eccentric brings the needle guard into the position shownin Fig. 9.

In Figs. 10,11 and 12, I have shown diagrammatically the itravel of the needle and the needle guard relative to the work sup port. In Fig. 10 the needle guard first contacts with the needle, and the eccentric at this time for operating the needle guard, is positioned as shown in Fig."9. In Fig. 11 the needle has reached the lower end of its stroke,and the needle guard has continued its forward movement, the needle being slightly deflected to permit this forward movement of the needle I guard, and the needle guardhas also raised slightly from the position shown in[Fi'g.10. In Fig. 12 the needle guard hasraised farther, following the'needle in its upward path, although the travel of the needle is slightly faster than that'of the needle guard. When the needle'guard is positioned as shown in this figure, thepoint of the looper is entering the needle loop, and the needle guard has finished its function' as. a needle guard, and maybe moved away from the needle.

Inasmuch as the needle guard engages the needle at a point adjacentthe eye or point thereof, the slight spring or the needle through the movement of the needle guard,

has no ill effect upon the needle, and the needle is firmly engaged and positively held out of the path of the looper.

It will be noted from the above description that the needle guard moves continuously in a plane substantially at right angles to the path of travel of the looper, into and out of the needle loop, and that during a portion of the travel of the needle guard, it is in'contact with the needle. It will also be noted that the needle guard which engages the needle and positions the same, is positively moved into and out of contact with the needle, which especially adapts the same for use in high speed machines.

While I have described my invention as applied to a machine having a plurality of loopers and a plurality of pairs of needles, it will be obvious from certain aspects of the invention, that the needle guard maybe tioned that the needles 8 pass between said finger 21 and the finger 43. The rear face of this finger 43 is rounded, so that if 'the needles are slightly deflected toward the front of the machine, theywill engage said rounded face and be moved into proper'position to allow the looper 11 to clear the needles as it moves forward into the needle loops thrown out by the needles 9.

It will be apparent from the above description, that the supporting shank for the needle-guiding shoulders may be adjusted both vertically and laterally ofthe needle path, so that said guiding shoulders may be properly positioned to cooperate with the needles. r It will be noted from Fig. 4 of the drawings that the'looper 11 is provided with the usual needle guard 11, which is set slightly in advance thereof. This needle guard will move in front of the needles 9, 9 as the looper is approaching the inner loops thrown out by these needles, and, as a consequence, said needle guard will prevent the deflection of the needles toward the front of the machine,

while the needle guard 24 will prevent the deflection of said needles toward the rear of the machine. The same is true respectively of the needle guards 22 and 21 relative to the needles 8, 8. r

It is obvious many minor changes in the details of the construction and arrangement of the parts may be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as set forthin the appended claims.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l 1. The combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a vertically recipro cating needle and a looper cooperating therewith, of a needle guard, and means for moving the needle guard into'contact with the needle and upwardly with the needle While in contact therewith, whereby said needle is held in vproper position relative to the looper as the looper enters the needle loop. I 2. mechanism including a needle and a looper coiiperatingtherewith, of a needle guard, a supporting fork"v therefor, an eccentric,

The combination with stitch-forming v:

means carried by the fork and engaging said eccentric, whereby said. fork is positively moved back and forth-and up and down, said needle guard being adapted to engage the needle and move therewith, so

as to properly hold the needle in position for the passin of the loop.

3.. The com ination with stitch-forming -mechanism including. a needle and a looper cooperating therewith, of a needle guard, a

supporting fork therefor, an eccentric,

meanscarried by the fork and engaging said eccentric, whereby said fork is positively moved back and forthand-up and down, said needle guard beingiadapted to engage the needle and move, therewith, so"

as to properly hold the needle in position a 1 for the passing of the loop, and means mechanism including a needle and a looper.

cooperating therewith, of a needle guard, a

. whereby said needle guard may-jbe adjust supporting fork therefor, means for pivot-= ally supportinghthe' rear end of said fork,

an eccentric engaging the front end of saidforkfor moving said fork up and down and back and forth, said needle guard being for holding the same in position for the passing of the looper.

5. The combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a needle and a looper coeperating therewith, of a needle guard, a

1 adapted to-engage and move with the needle 5 supporting fork therefor, means for pivotally supporting the rear end of said fork,

an eccentric engaging the front end of said fork for moving said fork up and down and back and forth, said needle guard being adapted to engage and move with the needle for holding the same in position for the passing of the looper, and means whereby said needle guard may be attached to said supporting fork, so that said needle guard may be adjusted vertically and also adjusted transversely of the path of travel of the looper.

6. The combination with stitch-forming respective needle loops.

7. The combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a plurality of pairs'of needles, each pair being arranged in a 'different vertical plane extending transversely V of the line of feed, a looper for each pair of needles, a needle guard for each pair of needles, a supporting shank foruthe needle guards, means for moving said shank, whereby said needle'guards are caused to contact with the needles and? move upwardly with the needles for holding the needles in proper position for the loopers to enter the respective needleloops, and means carried by said shank for preventing the rear pair of needles from being deflected forwardlyinto the path of the forward looper. I

8. The combination with stitchforming mechanism including a plurality of pairs of needles, each pair being arranged in; a different vertical'plane extending transversely of'the line of feed, a looper for each pair of needles, a needle guard for each pair of needles, a supporting shank for the needle guards, a supporting fork for said shank, means for pivota'lly supporting the rear end of said supporting fork, an eccentric for engaging the forward end of said fork, means carried by the fork and engaging said eccentric, whereby said fork is positively moved back and forth and up and down from said eccentric, said needle guard being'so disposed as to engage the needles and move upwardly therewith, whereby said needles are properly held for the loopers to enter the respective needle loops.

9. The combination of a stitch forming mechanism including a needle, a looper cooperating therewith, a feeding mechanism 7 including a feed bar, means for giving the feed bar a rising and falling movement, a needle guard, and means for giving said needle guard both a back and forward and an up and down movement from the means which raises and lowers the feed bar.

10. The combination of a stitch forming mechanism including a needle, a looper cooperating therewith, a feeding mechanism including a feed bar, means for giving the feed bar a rising and falling movement, a needle guard, and meansfor giving said needle guard both a back and forward and an up and down movement from the means which raises and lowers the feed bar, said upward movement of the needle guard being substantially ,in line with the needle and While in contact therewith.

11..The combination with stitch forming mechanism including a plurality of needles arranged one in advance of the other, whereby said needles are' disposed in different vertical planes extending. transversely of the line of feed, a looper for each needle, a needle fguardv for each needle, and means for 'moving the needle guards into contact with their respective needles and upwardly therewith whereby said needles are held in proper position relative to their respective loopers as the loopers enter their respective needle loops.

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature, in the presence oftwo witnesses.

LOUIS 'B. KETOHAM.

Witnesses: a

" R. B. RICHARDS,

' A. P. Ho'rcnxrss.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. 0 

